Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

In another French film classics, the 1945 melodrama "Falbalas" by Jacques Becker, it is suggested that the main character, a successful and workaholic fashion designer disinfects or perhaps freshens up between fittings by means of an oversized bottle of Chanel No. 5, in its iconic usual rectangular shape, poured directly over his hands. Some additional trivia: according to the opening credits, the outfits were actually designed by Rochas.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

My Husband was watching this kitchy psychothriller called the Hand that Rocks the Cradle, in which the woman who is posing as a nanny in order to steal her employers Husband and Children for herself, wears her employers signature scent to seduce the Husband, and gets called out by the employers best friend for wearing her signature scent. The perfume was Dior Poison, my Husband thought it was hilarious because that is my signature scent.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

Originally Posted by Ken_Russell

finally, a more humorous reference in the more contemporary sitcom "Mike and Molly"- when Molly Flynn and her sister Victoria remember their late father, they remark that he owned such immense quantities of Old Spice (which apparently he didn't enjoy so much) that he even "used it to light up the barbecue"

Lol, in that same show (which I love), I recall Vince Moranto naming Drakkar Noir while speaking to Molly:

I just wanted to stop by and give these flowers to your mother. I’ll make sure she gets them. I got a friend in Little Armenia who gives me a deal. That’s why they smell like grilled lamb and Drakkar Noir.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

I should probably mention that L'Heure Bleue was the favourite perfume of the 20th Century female author Jean Rhys. She mentions it in a few of her books. For example in Quartet it appears in both the book and the film version, and in the novel Good Morning, Midnight it is also mentioned.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

I caught a fragrance reference in Orange is the New Black the other day.....Piper says to Nikki after a discussion about their Mothers "you don't know what my sh*t" smells like"...sh*t being a reference to family drama.......to which Nikki leans in, sniffs her, and replies "you sh*t smells like Shalimar....must have rubbed off when she hugged ya". My Husband was like "isn't that the one in the fancy bottle that you love so much"

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

From Maxim Jakubowski's Ekaterina And The Night:

He can smell her perfume. An ever so fleeting touch of Anaïs Anaïs tempered with a darker note that softens the floral peaks of the fragrance, no doubt an intrinsic odour of her skin, a smell unique to her.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

Originally Posted by BetsyMeszaros

In Mad Men, Joan Holloway, when asked, says she wears Shalimar.

I love how Jim Cutler has a nose for perfume in that show too. He at one point asks Ted's Secretary if she's wearing Shalimar, and correctly IDs Peggy as wearing Chanel No. 5 before she leaves for a date (looking good, I may add).

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

Re: Lust, Caution by Ang Lee
Great movie, rather overshadowed by the stunning success of "Brokeback Mountain" the year previous to its release. It's about political espionage in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. Male lead is Tony Leung, who we get to see every inch (and I mean every.inch) of in the bedroom scenes.

Anyway, perfume! Fairly early on in the movie, a young woman sits in a Western-style cafe. She's been chosen by the radical cadre from her college to infiltrate the opposition by seducing its leader. She pulls out a perfume bottle from her purse. It looked like a half ounce extrait bottle to me. She removes the stopper and applies the fragrance to her neck. I've never been able to identify the perfume, but it did its visual duty in anchoring the scene as one of anticipation and desire. Lust and caution, indeed.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

In 'Lord of the Rings', Ugluk, captain of the band of Uruk-Hai orcs which captured Merry & Pippin, is seen to be carrying a bottle of Aramis in his leatherette washbag.

I've posted this so often, and I posted it in the Friday synch today. Sorry if I'm boring you...

In the film Hannibal, Clarice catches Hannibal the cannibal because of fragrance!!

Hannibal sends Clarice a letter. Clarice realises that the letter is fragranced. They gather a panel of noses who analyse it and track the fragrance to only a few places in the world. It's a really terrific scene for any fragrance lover. They identify "Kentucky Lavender" and ambergris. The clue takes us to Florence where Hannibal is seen on camera in the Santa Maria Novella shop in Via della Scala. Also in the film, the Police Inspectors beautiful wife, Allegra Pazzi has Santa Maria Novella fragrance on her dresser.

BTW the Friday synch today is about fragrances associated with TV programmes and Film. There are some great posts. Fell free to pop over. It's on the female forum.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

I've posted this so often, and I posted it in the Friday synch today. Sorry if I'm boring you...

In the film Hannibal, Clarice catches Hannibal the cannibal because of fragrance!!

Hannibal sends Clarice a letter. Clarice realises that the letter is fragranced. They gather a panel of noses who analyse it and track the fragrance to only a few places in the world. It's a really terrific scene for any fragrance lover. They identify "Kentucky Lavender" and ambergris. The clue takes us to Florence where Hannibal is seen on camera in the Santa Maria Novella shop in Via della Scala. Also in the film, the Police Inspectors beautiful wife, Allegra Pazzi has Santa Maria Novella fragrance on her dresser.

BTW the Friday synch today is about fragrances associated with TV programmes and Film. There are some great posts. Fell free to pop over. It's on the female forum.

I have pretty thoroughly researched this and have come to the conclusion that if you want to smell like Hannibal Lecter, Creed's Bois du Portugal is probably as close as you can get. It's the only fragrance I could find that features ambergris and lavender that would have been out and available in Europe when he sent his letter.

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

Originally Posted by du57in

I have pretty thoroughly researched this and have come to the conclusion that if you want to smell like Hannibal Lecter, Creed's Bois du Portugal is probably as close as you can get. It's the only fragrance I could find that features ambergris and lavender that would have been out and available in Europe when he sent his letter.

Very clever! I think that the letter is actually fragranced with scented hand creme. The panel of noses decide that it is a bespoke fragrance and that there is Ambergris in it and that you would only get real ambergris in a few places in the world, one being the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica Santa Maria Novella in Florence. This was really exciting for me because I have been there! They watch the shop's CCTV camera's and voila !! There is Hannibal sniffing fragrance from a mouillette. There is much artistic license, I'm sure, but it is a great plot twist for us, and you get to see Ridley Scotts beautiful hommage to Florence. Watch it!!

Re: Fragrance references in fiction books or films

A brief scene in the French film "La Fille du RER" aka "The girl in the train" (2009) directed by Andre Techine includes the "cameo" of a rather oversized bottle of Chanel pour Monsieur, displayed rather in the background (thus almost impossible to establish whether it is the regular or the concentrated version).